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Panic buying next week?

281 replies

hubbabubbamomma · 25/09/2026 20:42

Ok very random but I work in retail and we’ve been told to expect panic buying/shortages on fuel next week due to something big happening. Am I really naive as when I was told this I have no idea what it is about? I do read the news in the morning but I haven’t seen anything that would relate to this?

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FlyingCatGirl · 27/09/2026 18:02

DrBlackbird · 27/09/2026 12:57

This doesn’t have to be either a conspiracy theory or dismissive complacency. We do live in a just in time mode of production. Supermarkets no longer own their own cold storage facilities. Sold them off years ago. Hostile actors could (and have) negatively impact the UK.

If possible, it is sensible to have additional supplies. I used to live in a place where weather was sometimes unpredictable. We had basic supplies in case of losing electricity etc. Currently the UK govt is advising us to stock up if possible, granted this is not possible for those on limited income or with limited space. But for those who can, why wouldn’t you take govt advice? It would help protect against panic hoarding if our supply chains were disrupted for a few days.

Several hacks attributed to (or partly blamed on) Russia have risked real-world harm to communities and populations. Poland’s energy grid was targeted with computer-destroying malware late last year, as was a Swedish thermal plant

Earlier this year, Russian hackers targeted Poland’s water treatment plants,

Iranian hackers targeted over a hundred water providers in the US over the summer. This included privately owned water utilities, which remain a soft target as they often lack basic funding and cybersecurity protections.

US planes involved in the Iran conflict are based in the UK. God knows our private water companies can’t even function properly now let alone if there was a targeted attack. Just ask the people of Kent.

Don’t all of these occurrences suggest some preparation is sensible?

I'm definitely feeling wary of the fuel situation, the UK has about a month and halfs supply and fuel prices are horrendous right now, I saw prices of 207.9 in East Yorkshire yesterday! But it's the idiots that panic buy that I fear the most because they'll make life hell for everyone.

My old mum told me yesterday that she's stockpiling loo roll as she is panicking that super El Niño will bring really bad weather this winter and to be fair she may well be right!!

HelpMeGetThrough · 27/09/2026 21:16

FlyingCatGirl · 27/09/2026 18:02

I'm definitely feeling wary of the fuel situation, the UK has about a month and halfs supply and fuel prices are horrendous right now, I saw prices of 207.9 in East Yorkshire yesterday! But it's the idiots that panic buy that I fear the most because they'll make life hell for everyone.

My old mum told me yesterday that she's stockpiling loo roll as she is panicking that super El Niño will bring really bad weather this winter and to be fair she may well be right!!

216 per litre for diesel down here in the South West.

VanillaImpulse · 27/09/2026 22:10

197 per litre at the Asda in bristol

changeme4this · 27/09/2026 22:11

Boreded · 27/09/2026 08:56

Yes YOU as an individual don’t have stock, but WE as a global economy do

Edited

That didn’t help the farmers in rural Queensland (Australia) a few months back when even the local to them fuel stations also ran out.

Boreded · 27/09/2026 23:10

changeme4this · 27/09/2026 22:11

That didn’t help the farmers in rural Queensland (Australia) a few months back when even the local to them fuel stations also ran out.

Yes…RURAL Queensland. Not the UK with very short transport links to sources of goods, across Europe

T1Dmama · 28/09/2026 00:14

Hopefully someone will take Trump out so all this nonsense goes away

changeme4this · 28/09/2026 01:36

Boreded · 27/09/2026 23:10

Yes…RURAL Queensland. Not the UK with very short transport links to sources of goods, across Europe

Some of those affected were not that far from Brisbane.. doesn’t take much to leave the city behind and enter rural zones there...

however the point being there may well be a global economy but when the doors and bowsers shut, they shut. Doesn’t have to be in the Woops so I understand the earlier posters concern.

WhitegreeNcandle · 28/09/2026 07:24

Boreded · 27/09/2026 23:10

Yes…RURAL Queensland. Not the UK with very short transport links to sources of goods, across Europe

But the ones who have extra storage on farm and locally because they are used to self sufficiency? We operate here on such a just in time economy it’s ridiculous. We’ve also lost our ability to cope with even the tiniest inconvenience. Not diesel but a few months ago you couldn’t buy eggs in the co op. Their computer system was hacked so their order system was buggered up. For WEEKS they didn’t have eggs and told farmers they didn’t want them. The farmers who sell to them had to either waste the egg or offload them at a loss. Farmers were trying to set up vans to drive round the affected stores or use a telephone system. That was too complicated for the coop and they didn’t do it.

Boreded · 28/09/2026 16:58

WhitegreeNcandle · 28/09/2026 07:24

But the ones who have extra storage on farm and locally because they are used to self sufficiency? We operate here on such a just in time economy it’s ridiculous. We’ve also lost our ability to cope with even the tiniest inconvenience. Not diesel but a few months ago you couldn’t buy eggs in the co op. Their computer system was hacked so their order system was buggered up. For WEEKS they didn’t have eggs and told farmers they didn’t want them. The farmers who sell to them had to either waste the egg or offload them at a loss. Farmers were trying to set up vans to drive round the affected stores or use a telephone system. That was too complicated for the coop and they didn’t do it.

I’m not talking about individual farms though, I’m
talking about the industry as a whole, and the fuel industry. The only way significant shortages will occur if people panic buy. If they don’t then the stockpiles across the UK and Europe will be distributed as required and without significant delay.

cloudtree · 28/09/2026 19:21

Boreded · 28/09/2026 16:58

I’m not talking about individual farms though, I’m
talking about the industry as a whole, and the fuel industry. The only way significant shortages will occur if people panic buy. If they don’t then the stockpiles across the UK and Europe will be distributed as required and without significant delay.

This simply isn't true. You clearly have your own view though.

Nettie1964 · 29/09/2026 09:43

randomchap · 27/09/2026 10:44

Unironically using the word sheeple? Didn't realise people still did that.

Boomers do, unfortunately using a word you find outdated or unironicslly amusing doesnt change facts.everytime an oil refinery is destroyed supply goes down.

EasternStandard · 29/09/2026 09:50

Nettie1964 · 29/09/2026 09:43

Boomers do, unfortunately using a word you find outdated or unironicslly amusing doesnt change facts.everytime an oil refinery is destroyed supply goes down.

True. Just listening this morning re France panic buying.

randomchap · 29/09/2026 09:55

Nettie1964 · 29/09/2026 09:43

Boomers do, unfortunately using a word you find outdated or unironicslly amusing doesnt change facts.everytime an oil refinery is destroyed supply goes down.

No mention of the issues with the strait of hormuz? That's impacting diesel supply more than the Russian refineries being destroyed.

If I was a tin foil hat, sheeple using, conspiracy theorist, I'd think you were trying to blame Ukraine, rather than Trump and Putin

EasternStandard · 29/09/2026 09:58

randomchap · 29/09/2026 09:55

No mention of the issues with the strait of hormuz? That's impacting diesel supply more than the Russian refineries being destroyed.

If I was a tin foil hat, sheeple using, conspiracy theorist, I'd think you were trying to blame Ukraine, rather than Trump and Putin

It’s all part of the mix.

Because Russia historically accounted for about 10% of global diesel exports, removing roughly 3% of the world's daily diesel supply from international markets has triggered massive price spikes

It’s not Ukraine’s fault, for any of what they’re now dealing with. But diesel prices are being impacted by Russia’s drop too.

randomchap · 29/09/2026 10:00

EasternStandard · 29/09/2026 09:58

It’s all part of the mix.

Because Russia historically accounted for about 10% of global diesel exports, removing roughly 3% of the world's daily diesel supply from international markets has triggered massive price spikes

It’s not Ukraine’s fault, for any of what they’re now dealing with. But diesel prices are being impacted by Russia’s drop too.

And that Russia is having to import it now too.

But it's got worse since Trump decided to attack Iran.

charliehungerford · 29/09/2026 10:22

pattercare · 26/09/2026 06:35

If a fuel station is slightly cheaper it will have large queues, this is more noticeable now as the difference is bigger so Tesco, Asda, etc garages will be busy

Yes, I travelled 150 miles yesterday and saw petrol from £1.71 up to £1.96 (that was on a motorway).

charliehungerford · 29/09/2026 10:27

FlyingCatGirl · 27/09/2026 18:02

I'm definitely feeling wary of the fuel situation, the UK has about a month and halfs supply and fuel prices are horrendous right now, I saw prices of 207.9 in East Yorkshire yesterday! But it's the idiots that panic buy that I fear the most because they'll make life hell for everyone.

My old mum told me yesterday that she's stockpiling loo roll as she is panicking that super El Niño will bring really bad weather this winter and to be fair she may well be right!!

The good thing is though you can’t panic buy petrol, once the tank is full it’s full.

cloudtree · 29/09/2026 10:48

charliehungerford · 29/09/2026 10:27

The good thing is though you can’t panic buy petrol, once the tank is full it’s full.

people fill jerry cans

FlyingCatGirl · 29/09/2026 11:26

charliehungerford · 29/09/2026 10:27

The good thing is though you can’t panic buy petrol, once the tank is full it’s full.

I've seen idiots filling their car boots with jerry cans in previous episodes of panic buying - makes me cringe because it would be catastrophic if they got into a collision.

cloudtree · 29/09/2026 12:01

FlyingCatGirl · 29/09/2026 11:26

I've seen idiots filling their car boots with jerry cans in previous episodes of panic buying - makes me cringe because it would be catastrophic if they got into a collision.

Filling a jerry can really doesn't make you an idiot. People need to fill jerry cans for all sorts of reasons - breakdowns, ride on mowers, petrol tools such as hedge trimmers and chain saws..

Nettie1964 · 29/09/2026 13:14

randomchap · 29/09/2026 09:55

No mention of the issues with the strait of hormuz? That's impacting diesel supply more than the Russian refineries being destroyed.

If I was a tin foil hat, sheeple using, conspiracy theorist, I'd think you were trying to blame Ukraine, rather than Trump and Putin

Did you miss the first post when I mentioned China? As for the Ukraine the only thoughts I have are for the million plus dead the 10 million displaced and the weirdness of their president an ex actor who played a president on a comedy show, with no real traceable past with a wife who loves shopping in Paris while her country gets bombed.

pattercare · 29/09/2026 13:15

cloudtree · 29/09/2026 12:01

Filling a jerry can really doesn't make you an idiot. People need to fill jerry cans for all sorts of reasons - breakdowns, ride on mowers, petrol tools such as hedge trimmers and chain saws..

We have one for DH's boat engine

FlyingCatGirl · 29/09/2026 13:18

This reply has been deleted

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FlyingCatGirl · 29/09/2026 13:20

pattercare · 29/09/2026 13:15

We have one for DH's boat engine

I'm hardly talking about filling one jerry can, I'm talking about the people that had a car boot crammed full.of containers to get as much fuel in one visit as possible!

randomchap · 29/09/2026 13:28

Nettie1964 · 29/09/2026 13:14

Did you miss the first post when I mentioned China? As for the Ukraine the only thoughts I have are for the million plus dead the 10 million displaced and the weirdness of their president an ex actor who played a president on a comedy show, with no real traceable past with a wife who loves shopping in Paris while her country gets bombed.

Well done in just repeating Russian propaganda.

It's not Ukraine's or it's president's fault that Putin invaded. So what that he was an actor, so was Reagan.

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